Psalm 126:2 — "Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”"

It's the Lord who's done great things for us. We did not help ourselves. It wasn't luck nor human skill. Time and chance happen to us all, and this is controlled by God. Ecclesiastes 9:11, "Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the skillful; but time and chance happen to them all." We're not in control of our birth, or our gifts. If we have anything, then the Lord gave it.

He delivered us from sin. It was not intelligence or human willpower. We contributed nothing. The good we do is by grace. Philippians 2:13, "for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure." God works in us to will correctly. He answers prayers that he puts into our mouths, because he predetermined to give us goodness. It's the power of the Spirit, the grace of the Father, and the blood of Christ. We are recipients of mercy.

Let the bragging stop. We're no better than the LGBTQ, nor the most self righteous Pharisee. We must act as recipients of grace in humility, patience, and kindness. Ephesians 4:2, "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love." We didn't change ourselves, and without sovereign mercy, we perish forever.

Secondly, God is a restoring God.

Psalm 126:4 — "Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!"

He restores us to fellowship with himself by forgiveness, and he restores us to holiness by the Spirit. He restores our joy, and the years that we have squandered, enabling us to be useful now. Joel 2:25, “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust,cAnd the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you."

He restores broken relationships, as people follow Christ in love, rebuke, and correction. He restores meaning to life, as we turn from living for self. He restores hope, so we look to the future expectedly. Jeremiah 29:11, "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." He restores ministries and churches that have squandered his presence, giving us usefulness, the freshness of the Spirit, and communion in Christ's great love.

He restores what he didn't take away. Psalms 69:4," Those who hate me without a cause Are more than the hairs of my head; They are mighty who would destroy me, Being my enemies wrongfully; Though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it." It's not his fault that we're ruined, lonely, and discontent. Yet, he gives us beauty for ashes, and praise for mourning. Isaiah 61:3, "to provide for those who mourn in Zion—to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint Spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory." He renovates sinners, mends the broken, and makes the worthless to be valuable.

God ought to be praised, and relied upon. He ought to be looked to expectantly. Don't let anything take away your hope. Don’t look to yourself. Don't say that you've gone too far. Fall upon your knees for forgiveness. Ask him to take your ruined life, and make you useful. Tell of his greatness. The gospel is as simple as trusting God's grace through the finished work of Christ for all the fruit of the Spirit.

Thirdly, God promises that we'll reap, if we sow. We will have a harvest.

Psalm 126:6 — "He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him."

Good things come to those who wait. Rely on God, though you are troubled. Sing praises, because he's heard you. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22, "When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy splendor, as they went before the army, saying,
'Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.' As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed."

Tell others that he's faithful, and a refuge. Rely on him, though the promise seems too big for you. Anchor yourself upon the prayer-hearing and tear-seeing God. He reckons your misery as an opportunity to help, so he can be glorified. The same one who brought you pain in chastisement will bring you joy in restoration. His frown causes tears, but his smile brings deep and satisfying inward pleasure.